Senior Contracts Manager

Job Purpose

The role will require you to prepare, negotiate, and finalise research agreements, services agreements, consultancies, collaboration agreements, MTAs, NDAs and other commercial contracts with academic institutions and government bodies, commercial entities, and individuals.

You will ensure maximum benefit to the University whilst appropriately managing risk and intellectual property issues and ensuring compliance with legislation and University policies.

Furthermore, you will provide high quality legal advice and support to University staff on a wide range of matters.

In the case of Senior Contracts Managers, to support the strategic and operational management of the Legal & Contracts Team and to provide support, supervision and advice to solicitor and non-solicitor team members (including Trainee Solicitors).

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. To provide specialist and professional advice to University staff in respect of a wide variety of commercial contracts, including (without limitation) research agreements, academic collaborations, services agreements, IP licence agreements, secondment agreements, procurement contracts, agreements relating to the processing of personal data, agreements in support of clinical trials, MTAs, NDAs and other contracts.

2. To prepare, negotiate and finalise (both terms and conditions and price), ensuring effective due diligence, compliance with all relevant legislation and regulations, and alignment with University policies and strategies.

3. To provide contractual support to the activities of the University’s Procurement Team and DP/FOI Team to ensure compliance with all relevant legislation and regulations and to protect the University from risk.

4. To provide advice, support, and analysis to internal stakeholders across the University on a wide range of contract related matters, which may include IP management and commercialisation, corporate and commercial matters, public and charity law, branding and reputation management and regulatory compliance (for example subsidy compliance, export control, NSI, Nagoya protocol).

5. To advise senior University staff of key contract terms and associated risks prior to approval to ensure informed decision-making.  problems, to manage risk and to help ensure the University’s strategic outcomes are achieved.

6. To assist and advise in respect of the post-award management and enforcement of contracts, to ensure efficient post award management by providing clear instructions and guidance on contract terms and deliverables, including specific invoicing instructions to ensure that maximum funds are recovered from funders, and to advise in respect of the appropriate management and resolution of disputes, should they arise.

7. To recommend and implement process and system improvements and policy changes.

8. To ensure maintenance of accurate project data in the Agresso Research System to ensure accurate reporting and workflow.

9. To provide briefings and presentations in support of the objectives of the Legal & Contracts Team.

10. To contribute to the enhancement of the University’s strategy, WORLD CHANGERS TOGETHER: WORLD CHANGING GLASGOW 2025.

For appointment at Grade 8

11. Applying high level expertise to matters of strategic significance and/or political sensitivity, providing insight and analysis in order to produce effective solutions to complex and/or novel legal problems, to manage risk and to help ensure the University’s strategic outcomes are achieved.

12. To provide support, training, mentorship and supervision to solicitor and non-solicitor team members (including Trainee Solicitors).

13. To support the strategic and operational management of the Legal and Contracts Team.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential:

A1 Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9 (Bachelors/Ordinary Degree or Graduate Apprenticeship) or equivalent (including professional accreditation with relevant formal training).

A2 Applied knowledge of contract issues and IP.

For appointment at Grade 8:

A3 In depth knowledge of contract issues and IP.

Desirable:

B1 Current or recent (within last 12 months) holder of a full Practising Certificate from the Law Society of Scotland , including maintaining professional competence (e.g. through CPD).

Skills

Essential:

C1 Contract negotiation and contract drafting skills.

C2 Excellent workload and time management skills with an ability to prioritise competing demands.

C3 Self-motivated, flexible, and prepared to take on and adapt to new challenges.

C4 Ability to learn new areas of law and regulation and incorporate into practice.

C5 Strong team player with the ability to work independently when required.

C6 Strong customer service skills.

C7 Highly developed communication skills.

C8 Ability to influence senior managers.

C9 Ability to liaise and cooperate with people across organisational boundaries.

C10 Strong understanding of risk management.

C11 Good attention to detail with high standards of accuracy.

C12 Proficient IT skills including MS products and networked systems.

C13 Strong financial awareness.

For appointment at Grade 8:

C14 Excellent training, supervisory and management skills with respect to more junior team members.

C15 Highly developed contract negotiation and contract drafting skills.

Experience

Essential:

E1 Relevant and demonstrable experience of drafting and negotiating commercial contracts and managing contractual risks.

E2 Demonstrable experience in delivering a high quality customer service.

E3 Demonstrable experience of planning/progressing work activities using initiative and judgement.

E4 Demonstrable experience of working in a fast paced / high volume environment.

For appointment at Grade 8:

E5 Significant relevant experience of drafting and negotiating complex commercial contracts and managing contractual risks.

E6 Experience in supervising/managing the work of others.

Desirable:

F1 Experience of working in or with the HE sector.

F2 Experience of advising on data protection issues.

F3 Experience in supporting public sector procurement activity.

F4 Experience in supporting clinical trials activity.

Terms and Conditions

For Senior role Salary will be Grade 8, £48,350 - £56,021 per annum. Also, Grade 7 Contracts Manager candidates will be considered for this post, Salary will be Grade 7, £39,347- £44,263.

This post is full time (35 hours per week) and open ended (permanent). Relocation assistance will be provided where appropriate.

NB: This post is a readvertisement. Previous applicants need not apply.

As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.